Locking mechanism



March 29 1927.

J. H. NELSON LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov, 9, 1925 March 29, '1927. 1,622,732

J. H. NELSON LOCKING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i TO BRIGHT UGHll'b f5, ro 'SAT1-ER Z 736km v, E* M Y TO PARKING LIGHTS v' Patented Mar. 29, i927.

U NITE Dr S TAT ES P A 'l' ENT @IFF ITC E.

JOI-IN I-I NELSON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY' A. DOUGLAS, OF'

BRONSON, MICHIGAN.

LOCKING MECHANISM.

Application filed November My invention relates to locking mecha nism and is of particular service in conneet-ion with combined. switches for governing the ignition or power controlling circuits and the lighting circuits of automotive vehicles and which combined switches employ switch handles for controlling the lighting: circuits and locks for controlling theV ignition or power controlling circuits. A- pri-or switch of this class is provided with anA enclosing` casing for the cont-acting mechanism, this casing having a central tu` bular portion projectingoutwardly beyond the casing into the hollow hubr 'of the lighting circuit controlling handle. This tubular casing portion that is surrounded by the hub of a handle also constitutes a hollow member ofthe lock. This hollow lock member encloses ay tumbler barrel that carries a number of'tumblers movable transversely of the hollow. lock membe and tumbler barrel and which, enterV openings formed' in opposite sides ofthe hollow lock member after the tumbler barrel. is turned by the inserted liey to bring the-tumblers into register with said openings and in. consequence of the with* drawal of the key following this turning movement of the tumbler barrel, the tumbler barrel` being' locked inttixed relation with the hollow lock member when the tumblers enter the openings in this member. When the key is inserted to withdraw the, tumblers from said. openings, the tumbler barrel may be turned by the inserted key to remove the tumblers from alignment with the openings to bring the tumblcrs out of lockingrelation with the hollow loch n'lcrnber, imperforateportions of this member then holdthe tumblers out of locking relation with it. The tumbler barrel is in operating rela` tion; with the contact actuator within the casing that governs the ignition circuit. lVlien the key is inserted and turn-edito turn the tumbler barrel to an unlocked position, the ignition circuit is consequently closed. lVhen the key is reversely turned.` the tuinbler barrel is reversely turned, and the igni tion circuit is consequently opened, the tumblers then being in register with the openings inthe hollow loch member. lli/*hen thc key is withdrawn following its reversed turning movement, the tumblers are free to enter the openings in thehollow lock member toloch the ignition circuit open.

In these prior switches, the tumbler -barrel 9; 192,5. serial No. 67,857.

or rotatable` lock member was so positioned with relationtothe handle,- that occasionally the handle, in being moved to. adjust the lightingcircuits, would turn this lock member from its ignition circuit closing position to an ignition circuit opening position, thereby7 bringingv the engine to rest unless this faulty operation were at once observed.

It is the general object of my invention to,

provide an improved locking mechanism; for, locking the ignition switch in ignition circuit opening position. mechanism isinclusive of a key operated tumbler barrel that is preferably in directr turning .engagement with a contact actuator pertaining to the ignition circuit and is so related tothe lighting switch handle as not to be' incidentally operable thereby. Thev tumblers are desirably disposed longitudinally of the axis of the tumbler barrel, this barrel being formed to receive spring-pressed holding pinscarried by the shell or hollow lock member that is preferably fixed upon the outer casing end wallv and extends within the casing. These pins are in their holding positions when the ignition circuit is to be lockedv open. By means of this construction, I am enabled to reduce the aggregate depth of the switch structure. The lock of my invention includes a holding; partupon the inner end of the lock member that is fixed.V upon the end wall of the casing,

this holding; part being within the. casing and upon the inner end of this lock mem..- ber that projects into the casing. and there is also employed a ley controlledA lock member between this holding part and said casing end wall. Saidv holdingl part desir-ably carries the spring pressed pins but this feature of the invention is not to `be limited to the employment ofthe spring pressed pins and. the cooperating t-umblers.

In carrying out my invention in the preferred way, I provide a handle operated, light circuit controlling, contact actuating ring within the switch casing, a second contact actuating ring surrounded by the first andi incontrolling relation to the ignition circuit, the hollow lock member being surrounded by the rings. This tubular or holilow lock member is desirably lixedly secured at its outer end to the outer end wall ofthe casing` thereby constituting an inward con.- tinuation of the casing instead of an outward continuation ot the casing as hitherto;

This lockingx This continuation enables me to employ the tumbler barrel to directly hold the ignition lcircuit controlling contact actuating ring to lock the ignition circuit open.

The invention will be more fully explained in connection with the. accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front View of the preferred embodiment ot the invention; Fig'. 2 is a rear view; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 ot Fig. 1, on a larger scale, with the key inserted; Fig. t is a sectional View on line 4 4- o't Fig. 3, on a smaller scale; Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the locking' mechanism and a broken portion ot the front casing' end wall; Fig. G is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 with the ignition switch contact actuatingring absent; Fig. 7 is a side view of the locking` mechanism, parts ot the easing and the inner actuating ring` being shown in section; Fig. S is a. sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 ol Fig. et; Fie. 10 is a sectional View on line 10--10 ot F' 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing` two complemental parts ot the lock mechanism in separated relation; Fig. 12 is a perspective View showing the. hollow lock member and a portion ot the casing` end wall that supports it, prior to the assembly ot these two elements; Fi g. 13 is a sectional view on line 13-13 of Fie. 3, showing the tumbler barrel in circuit opening position; Fig. lat is a View similar to F ig. 13, but showing the tumbler barrel in circuit closing` position; and Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating; the relationship ot the handle and lock with the switching mechanism.

The switching` mechanism to be later described is enclosed within a casing` that is preferably cylindrical. The casing is desirably termed of sheet metal and has one end wall l integrally formed with its cylindri al wall 9.. The other end wall ot the casing is illustrated in the itorm ot a contact carrying disc 3 ot insulating material, this dise harinal bayonet pins 4 which are received in bayonet slots 5 termed in the casing` wall 2. The end wall i?) thus con-- stitutes a removable closure affording access to the interior ot' the casing for the purpose 0i locating the operating parts ot the switching n'ieehanism therein and tor the inspection and replacement ot these parts. The disc is held in assembly with the casingl by spring pressure exerted rearwardly thereon and furnished by spring-pressed contacts, later to be described, that are contained in the casing. is will more fully appear, some ot these spring-pressed contacts are complemental to contacts G, 6', 7, S, 8, 9, 9', 92 and 10 ca'ried by the closure disc 3 and other ol' these spring-pressed contacts are complemental to and engageable with the ignition contact 10 and the battery contact 11 also carried by the disc 3. The contacts 13, 14, 15 and 16, that pertain to t-he contacts 6, (3', 7, 8, 8', 9, 9', 92 and 10, are in the nature of bulging formations formed in a ring` 1'?, this ring and these contacts being diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 15. The contacts 18, 19 and 20 that pertain to the contacts 10 and 11 are also in the nature o.: bulging toi-mations which, in the case of these contacts, are `formed in a second contact carrying,l ring;` 2l surrounded by ring 17.

The particular nature ot the circuits controlled by the handle and lock is not germane to my invention and, therefore, the cir it arrangement in Fig. 15 need not be particularly described. It will suilice to say that the switching,y arrangement illustrated, is such that the lighting switch handle. when adjusted to parking` position or an ott position, establishes gaps in the ignition circuit so that this circuit may not then be closed but is tree to be closed when the. lighting switch is adjusted to day, dum or bright posit-ions.

The metallic rings 17 and 21 are pressed toward the Contact carrying disc 3 in order that the contacts on said rings may press against the compleniental contacts on the carrier 3 or on the insulation between these contacts, according to the circuit adjustment desired. rlfhe desired spring pressure is exerted by preferably providingeach ot the contacts 13, 1-t, 15 and 16 on the ring 17 and the contacts 1S, 19 and 2O on ring S31, with the spring' devices illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8. Each spring device includes a spring` barrel Q3 which houses a spring` Q-t and which presses the element (17 or 9.1) carrying' it, toward thc Contact carrier rlhe springs 24, in the construction illustrated, carry no essential. parts oi thel currents. T he spring barrels 23 constitute means ior flexibly coupling the Contact carriers 17 and 2l with the actuators 'tor these contact carriers. rfhe actuator `tor the Contact carrying* ring 2l. is desirably in the ilorin ot an insulating' ring 2G which is coaxial with the casing'. The .f-pring barrels Q carried by the ring; E21 are slidinks'ly received wit-hin recesses .27 formed in the ring; E2G. Eis the ring' Qti is turned, by means which will later be described, the contacts itl, [9 and Q9 ou tue ringi` 2l will ride into and out oi: cavities ,formed in the contacts if) and l1 and also 'termed in the insulating contact carrying; disc 3, the extent to which 4the ringv 2G is spring-pressed away 'trom the disc El beine` limited by its engagement with the casing end wall 1 i The contact actuator Afor the contact carryine; ring 1T desirably in the nature of another insulating ring 28 that is located in the Zone ot and which surrounds the ring 26, the ring` 2S being coaxial with the casing and Jrhe rings 17, 21 and 26. The rings 17 and 28 lll) are substantially ofthe same diameters and are .coupled'in a ymanner similar to Vthat in wh-ichrfthe ring 26 .and yring 21 are coupled as liithert'ohstatedf.` The bore of' the ring 28 has radially disposed enlargements 29l which receive the prongsit) formed rupon the h-ub portion ,3l of aha-nelle 32 and which project through varcuate slots 33 formed through the end wall 1 and concentric therewith. A plate 34, ypreferably circular and slightly dished, is suitably assembled with the casing end wall l upon thexe-xterior thereof, as by means of rivets 35. The ,plate 84 may, if desired, constitute the mounting plate for the switch structure inwhich event it may be formed with screw receiving holes 84. The handle hub 31 has acircular flange portion 31 ,that is concentric with `the casing and which directly carries the prongs A30. This circular portion 31 isl in 'the nature of a flangczoilset with respect tothe body p ortion of the hub surrounded thereby to form an annular shoulder 36 concentric with the handle Aand casing and engaging the inner edge of the circular 1opening formed in the plate 34 yconcentrically with the handle and casing. The tlange 31 is received in the space'between the plate 84 and the casing end wall 1, the flange 'beingV in engagement with both plate and end wall at its circular edge to restrain `the handle from movement along thecasing axis. The shoulder 3.6 and the surrounding plate34.contine the handle toturning movement upon the axis of the casi-ng. rllhe range of oscillation of the handle is defined by the lengths of the arcuate slots .33, this range of movement being suilicient to .enable the handle 4 to turn the contact actuator 28 in either direction and to` ra suiiicientextent y.to `close the selected lighting ci-rcuit or `,to open all lighting circuits.

rllhe contact actuator 26 that .determines the position-ofthe ring `21 is, in the embodiment ol- `the inventionillustrated, operated by a lock tumbler barrel 37 which is confined within the hollow lock member 38 which is prefer-ably in the nature `of a tubular yextension ol' the vcasing end wall 1 that projects from this casing end wall into the interior ofthe casing. This .tumbler barrel is in line with the axis of the handle.

The hollow lock member 88 is 'formed with allan-gc in the nature of a bead 39, at its outer end, and is inturned at this endto form an annular rim 40 which overl-aps the outer end of the tumbler barrel 37. The hollow lock member z28 has holding wing portions 39 which are outwardly bent to snugly till the spaces between the arcuate projections '1' formed upon the casing end wall 1. The bead 3,9 and the wings 39 c0- operate with the .end wall which is gripped between these parts when the wings 39 are outfturned to prevent the, hollow'lock member trom` mov-ing longitudinally of the casing'axis. The arcuate projections l on the casing endwall 1 serve to r,prevent the hollow lock member Atrom :being turned.

The rim 40 is formed withkey inlets 41 at opposite sides thereof and with which the keyway 42 in the tumbler barrel is brought intocommunication. The tumbler `barrel is turned from the ignition circuit closing position, illustrated .in Fig. 14, to ignition circ-uit opening position, illustrated in Fig. 13. Vhen the keyway 42 and the key inlets 4l are in register, as indicated in Fig. 13', the key 43 may `be inserted or withdrawn. lhen the key is withdrawn the ignition `circuit is locked open. Then the key is inserted and turned, the ignition circuit is closed. The tumbler'barrel has laterally extending wings 44 which pass through lateral openings 45 lformed in the hollow lock mein,- ber 88, these wings being surrounded by ring 26 and entering guideways 46'in this ring and which guideways are inthe nature of enlargements of the bore of this ring; The sides of the bore enlargements 46 are engaged by the wings of the tumbler vbarrel and constitute holding formations whichare engaged by these wings to turn :the ring 26 and to h'old it in its selectedY adjustments. The connection established between the tumbler barrel 37 `and the ring 26 by means Aof the wings 44 is thus a sliding or splined con-v nection that is effected in the zone of the hollow lock member 38. The tumblers 47` which are employed to hold' the tumbler barrel-and the contact actuating ring 26 from rotation are desirably arrangedlongi- .tud-inally ofv the axisof thetumbler :barrel and are slidable within channels formed in the tumbler barrel along its axis. These tumblers serve to remove the holdingpins 48 from the `tumbler chan-nels when the key is inserted, preparatory to the rotation ot the tumbler barrel from the position in which it locks the ignition circuit open 4to. the posit-ion in which it closes thel ignition circuit, said holding pins being free tof enter the ltumbler channels when the tumbler barrel is restored tol circuit opening position and the key is withdrawn, said pins then serving to lock the ignition circuit open. The locking pins 48 are arranged in channels that are formed in a pin carrier 49, constituting a holding part to hold the key operated lock member 37 from turning and which is secured to the inner end of the hollow lock member 88. the channels in the carrier 49 that `contain the pins 48 constituting continuations of the channels in the tumbler barrel when this barrel is turned to circuit opening position. Springs 50 press outwardly upon the pins 48 so that when the tumbler channels in the tumbler barrel are aligned with the pin channels in the, pin carrier and the key is withdrawn, the locking pins will enter the tumbler channels to a limited extent and without being ejected from the channels in the pin carrier wherea'lter the tumbler barrel cannotl be turned.

The pin carrier 49 also serves to center the tumbler barrel 37, it being provided with a reduced outer end portion 5l that enters a socket 52 on the inner end of the tumbler barrel. lThe pin'carrier and the outer end ot the lock member 38 cooperate to deline a fixed axis of rotation tor the tumbler barrel; this axis including the center oi the opening 53, in the end wall l, that receives the outer end ot lock member 38 and also including the center ot the opening 54 in the handle hub tl'irough which the key is passed to the lock. rlhe key or lock opening 54 in the handle, the casing opening 53 and the bore of the lock member 88 are thus in register and coaxial with the tumbler barrel, the contact carriers 17 and 2l and the actuating rings 26 and 28.

The contact carriers 17 and 2l, being adapted to turn, serve actuators in direct adjusting relation to the contacts carried thereby. The rings 26 and 28 serve as actuators for said contact carriers and, through these carriers, Vas actuators for said contacts.

Changes may be made without departing trom the invention. y

Having thus described my invention; l claim l. The combination with a casing having an opening formed through an end Wall thereof; ol a hollow lock member fixed upon said easing end Wall and in register with said opening, this lock member projecting into the interior ot the casing; a pin carrier within the casing and secured to the inner end of said lock member; a pin upon said pin carrier and spring pressed toward said casing end wall; a key operated lock member disposed to turn in said hollow lock member and locatedbetween said pin carrier and said casing end Wall; a key operated tumbler in sai-d key operated loc-k membe' and adapted to be located in and out ot' register with the aforesaid pio upon turning said key operated lock m-emliier. (he aforesaid pin projecting irto the space occupied by said tumbler when the tumbler is in register with the pin and in the absence oit the key; said tumbler being key operated to position said pin and tumbler each within the part carrying the same to permit the key to turn the key operated lock member; a handle mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing, said key operated lock member being in line with the axis ot the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage ot the key; and mechanism within the easing having one member coupled, within the casing, with the key operated lock member and another member coupled with the handle.

2. The combination with a casing having an opening formed through an end wall thereof; ot a lock member xed upon said casing end Wall and in the region of said opening, this lock member projecting into the interior ot the casing; a pin carrier within the casing and secured to the inner end ot said lock member; a pin upon said pin carrier and spring pressed toward said casing end Wall; a key operated lock member disposed adjacent the first aforesaid lock member and mounted to turn and located between ,said pin carrier and said eas" ig end wall; a key operated tumbler in said key operated lock member and adapted to be located in and out ot register with the aforesaid pin upon turning said key operated locir member7 the aforesaid pin projecting into the space occupied by said tumbler when the tumbler is in register with the pin and in the absence ot the key, said tumbler being key opera-ted to position said pin and tumbler each within the part carrying the same to permit the key to turn the key operated lock member; a handle mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing, said key operated lock member being in line with the axis ot the handle, the handle being formed to permit passage of the key; and mechanism 'ithin the casing having one member coupled; within the easing, with the key operated lock member and another member coupled with the handle.

The combination with a casing having an opening formed through an end Wall thereof; of a hollow lock member lixed upon said casing end wall and in register With said opening, this lock member projecting into the interior ot the casing and carrying a holding part that is iixed upon its inner end; a key operated lock member disposed to turn in said hollow lock member and located between said holding part and said casing end wall; means for maintaining said holding part and said key operated lock member in fixed relation and key controlled to permit the key to operate said key operated lock member; a handle mounted to turn upon the exterior ot the casing, said key operated lock member being in line with the axis ot the handle, the handle being l'ormed to permit passage ot the key; and mechanism within the casing having one member coupled, within the casing; with the key operated lock member and another member coupled with the handle.

et. rlho combination with a casing having an opening formed through an end wall thereof; ot a lock member iii-red upon said casing end wall and in the region ol said opening, this lock member projecting into the interior ot the casing and carrying a holding part that is fixed upon its inner end; a key operated lock member disposed adjacent the iirst aforesaid lock member and mounted to turn and located between said holding part and said casing end wall; means for maintaining said holding part and said key operated lock member in fixed relation and key controlled to permit the key to operate said key operated lock member; a handle mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing, said key operated lock member being in line with the axis of the handle, the han- 'dle being formed to permit passage of the key; and mechanism within the casing having one member coupled.7 within the casing, with the key operated lock member and another member coupled with the handle.

5. The combination with a casing having an opening formed through an end wall thereof; of a hollow lock member fixed upon said casing end wall and in register with said opening, this lock member projecting into the interior of the casing; a pin carrier within the casing and secured to the inner end of said lock member; a pin upon said pin carrier and spring pressed toward said casing end wall; a. key operated lock member disposed to turn in said hollow lock member and located between said pin carrier and said casing end wall; and a key operated tumbler in said key operated lock member and adapted to be located in and out of register with the aforesaid pin upon turning said key opera-ted lock member, the aforesaid pin projecting into the space occupied by said tumbler when the tumbler is in register with the pin and in the absence of the key, said tumbler being key operated to position said pin and tumbler each within the part carrying the same to permit the key to turn the key operated lock member.

6. The combination with a casing having an opening formed through an end wall thereof; of a l-ock member fixed upon said casing end wall and in the region of said opening, this lock member projecting into the interior of the casing; a pin carrier within the casing and secured to the inner end of said lock member; a pin upon said pin carrier and spring pressed toward said casing end wall; a key operated lock member disposed adjacent the first aforesaid lock member and mounted to turn and located between said pin carrier and said casing end wall; and a key operated tumbler in said key operated lock member and adapted to be located in and out of register with the afore* said in upon turning said key operated lock member, the aforesaid pin projecting into the space occupied by said tumbler when the tumbler is in register with the pin and in the absence of the key, said tumbler being key operated to position said pin and tumbler each within the part carrying the same to permit the key to turn the key operated lock member.

7 The combination with a casing having an opening formed through an end Wall thereof; of a hollow lock member fixed upon said casing end wall and in register with said opening7 this lock member projecting into the interior of the casing and carrying a holding part that is fixed upon its inner end; a key operated lock member disposed to turn in said hollow lock member and located between said holding part and said casing end wall; and means for maintaining said holding part and said key operated lock member in fixed relation and key controlled to permit the key to operate said key ope-rated lock member. Y

8. The combination with a casing having an opening` formed through an end wall thereof; of a lock member fixed upon said casing end wall and in the region of said opening; this lock member projecting into the interior of the casing and carrying a holding part that is fixed upon its inner end; a key operated lock member disposed adjacent the first aforesaid lock member and mounted to turn and located between said holding part and said casing end wall; and means for maintaining said holding part and said key operated lock member in fixed relation and key controlled to permit the key to operate said key operated lock member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

J OHN H. NELSON. 

